small island, joined to the main isle by a causeway, extending across the harbor. It is large and well built, the see of a bishop, and so well defended as to be almost impreg nable.

THE VIRGIN ISLES

ARE a group of small islands, extending over a space of about 24 leagues from east to west, and 16 from north to south, and nearly approach the east coast of Porto Rico. They belong to several European Powers, but chiefly to Great-Britain and Denmark.

THE CARIBBEES

EXTEND in a semicircular form, from the island of Porto Rico, the easternmost of the Antilles, to the coast of South-America. The sea, thus enclosed by the main land and the isles, is called the Caribbean sea; and its great channel leads northwestward to the head of the gulf of Mexico, through the sea of Honduras. The chief of these islands are Santa Cruz, Sambuca, Anguilla, St. Martin, St. Bartholomew, Barbuda, Saba, St. Eustatia, St. Christopher, Nevis, Antigua, Montserrat, Guadaloupe, Deseada, Mariagalante, Dominico, Martinico, St. Vincent, Barbadoes, and Grenada. These are classed into WINDWARD and LEEWARD ISLES, by seamen, with regard to the usual courses of the ships from 01 Spain, or the Canaries, to Carthagena, or New-Spain, and Porto Bello.

BARBADOES, belonging to the English, is the most easterly of all the Caribbees, and one of the most populous. spots on the earth. Its extent is not more than 20 miles by 13, yet it contains 16,000 whites, and 6000 blacks.

MARTINIQUE is the residence of the governor of all the French West-Indies. GUADALOUPE, which also belongs to the French, is the largest of the whole group.

TRINIDAD, though not one of the Caribbees, may be properly noticed in this place. It lies near the coast of Terra Firma, 36 leagues long and 18 or 20 broad. Beside the products, common to the West-Indies, this island has a remarkable lake of petroleum, or fossil oil, which

affords a valuable object of exportation, as being the best preservative of the bottom of ships, from the worms which are so destructive to them, in the West-Indies and other warm climates. Trinidad was settled by the Spaniards, but has been ceded to England.

EUROPE.

Extent. EUROPE is much the smallest of the four grand divisions of the globe. Its length from the rock of. Lisbon, in 10 degrees west, to the Uralian mountains, in 60 degrees east longitude from Greenwich, is about 3300 miles. Its breadth from cape Nord, in Danish Lapland, latitude 72 degrees, to cape Matapar in Greece, latitude 36 degrees north, is about 2350. It contains 2,500,000 square miles.

Boundaries. Europe is bounded on the east by Asia; south by the Mediterranean, which separates it from Africa; west it has the Atlantic ocean, which contains the most westerly European isle, that of Iceland; north it is limited by the Arctic ocean, embracing the remote isles of Spitzburgen and Nova-Zembla, or the New Land, the most northern land yet discovered.

Climate. Though great diversities of climate undoubt edly exist in Europe, yet the extreme of cold only is felt. The heat is in no part comparable to that of the torrid zone, from which even its most southern provinces are far distant. It lies principally in the northern temperate zone; a small portion extends beyond the arctic circle.

Seas. Of the waters whieh indent and peninsulate the shores of Europe, the principal is the Mediterranean sea, 2000 miles long, which separates it from Africa on the south. On the northern side of this sea, are two extensive gulfs; that of Venice, sometimes called the Adriatic, and the Archipelago. From the Archipelago, a strait called the Hellespont conducts to the sea of Marmora ; and an other, styled the strait of Constantinople, leads from that. to the Euxine, or Black sea. The strait of Caffa connects. the Enxine with the sea of Azof,

The Baltic is an inland sea in the northwest part of Earope, formed by the coasts of Russia, Denmark, Sweden, and Germany. The Baltic opens from the Atlantic ocean by a gulf pointing northeast, called the Scaggerac, and afterwards passes south by the strait called Cattegat, to the east of which is the sound of Elsineur, where all vessels pay a tribute of courtesy to Denmark. The length of the Baltic, from southwest to northeast, is more than 200leagues; its breadth varies from 25 to 50 leagues. To the northeast the Baltic spreads into two extensive branches, called the gulfs of Bethmia and Finland. Tides are unknown in this sea, and the waters have an uncommon freshness. It is usually frozen three months in the year. The White sea is a bay of the Arctic ocean, indenting the northern shores of Russia.

The German sea, is a part of the Atlantic ocean, washing the western shore of Germany. Another portion of the Atlantic, called the British channel, flows between France and the British isles.

The bay of Biscay is between cape Ortegal, in Spain, and the French island of Ushant.

Islands. The islands of Europe will be described underthe respective countries to which the; belong.

Rivers. The most considerable rivers are the Volga, the Danube, the Dnieper, the Rhine, and the Elbe. These, as well as others, smaller in size, but equal in utility, will be noticed under the respective countries through which they flow.

Mountains. The most elevated mountains of Europe are the Alps. Next to these are the Pyrennees, and the extensive ridge, which divides Norway from Sweden. The Carpathian mountains and the Appenines are of inferior extent and height.

Inhabitants. The number of inhabitants in Europe, according to Hassel, is 179,665,000.

Governments. Modern Europe scarcely affords an ex ample of any kind of government but of monarchies; some of which are limited, others absolute and despotic. Most of the countries, formerly denominated republics, have been transformed into absolute monarchies, or military despotisms.

Religion. The Christian religion is established through

But every part of Europe, except Turkey, and may be comprehended under three general denominations: 1st, the Greek church; 2d, the Roman catholic; and 3d, Protestantism: which last is again divided into Lutheranism and Calvinism, so called from Luther and Calvin, the two distinguished reformers of the 16th century.

General History. Europe was anciently peopled by Celts in the west and south; by the Fins in the northeast; and by the Lapps, or Laplanders, in the northern extremity. The Scythians, from Asia, peopled a considerable part of Europe. The Sarmatian, or Sclavonic tribes, the ances tors of the present Russians, Poles, &c. were likewise from Asia. The Moors, from Africa, peopled Spain at a very. early period.

Though Europe is the least extensive quarter of the globe, yet it may be considered as the principal in every thing relating to man in society; mildness of air, fertility of soil, producing all the necessaries and most of the luxuries of life; and in the beauty, strength, courage, and wisdom of its inhabitants. Here the arts of utility and ornament, and the sciences, both military and civil, bave been carried to the greatest perfection. If we except the earliest ages of the world, it is in Europe that we find the greatest variety of character,. government, and manners, and from whence we draw the greatest numbers of facts and memorials, both for our entertainment and instruc tion.

The languages of Europe are derived from the six following: The Greek, Latin, Teutonic or Old German, the Celtic, Sclavonic, and Gothic.

Europe has subdued to its subjection a great part of the other divisions of the world. It governs all that part of the American continent which has been peopled from Europe, the United States excepted. It possesses almost all the islands which have been discovered in the three great oceans, the Pacific, the Atlantic, and the Indian. It gives. laws to more than half Asia, to the greater part of the coast of Africa, and to several interior countries of considerable extent; so that nearly half the inhabited worlds hows to Europe.

LAPLAND.

Situation. AT the northern extremity of Europe lies the country of the Laplanders, extending from the North cape, in lat. 74 30 to the White sea, under the Aretie circle; 450 miles long, and 300 broad. Part of Lapland belongs to the Danes; another part to the Swedes; and a third to the Russians. Swedish Lapland comprehends all the country from the Baltic to the mountains which separate Norway from Sweden. Tlie Russian part lies to the east, and borders on the White sea. Danish Lap land lies north of Norway.

Climate. The winters here are extremely cold. Snow often covers the ground four or five feet deep. The heat for a short time, is also excessive. During some months in the summer, the sun never sets; and for the. same space in winter it never rises. Yet the inhabitants are so well assisted by twilight, that they are not compelled to leave their employments on account of darkness.

General Appearance and Productions. The country is full of rocks and mountains, fens and morasses, barren heaths and sandy deserts. There are, however, some lakes, containing islands which form pleasant habitations; and are believed by the natives to be the terrestrial paradise; even roses and other flowers grow wild on their borders in the summer. The banks of lakes and rivers produce pine, fir, birch, and other trees, with some wholesome berries and vegetables. The mountains are said to be rich in rock crystals, purple amethysts, topazes, load-. stone, quicksilver, native cinnabar, &c. Copper and lead mines have been discovered and worked to advantage.

The most remarkable animal of this country is the reindeer, which nature seems to have provided to solace the Laplander for the privation of other comforts of life. These creatures provide for themselves both summer and winter, feeding on grass, leaves and moss. The Laplanders make use of this animal in travelling. Its flesh is their chief food, and its skin their clothing. It supplies its owner with a bed; with good milk and cheese. Of the intestines and tendons are made thread and cordage; and the bones and horns are offered to idols.